Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to protect the environment of the Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake, prevent water pollution, and ensure integrated waste management.

He gave the directive at a meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat to review the sewerage connections of buildings in the Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan areas, alongside the overall plan to make the lake pollution-free, said his Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister ordered a comprehensive action plan to boost Bangladesh's carbon credits.

He stressed the need for coordinated efforts by the relevant ministries, city corporations, and other agencies to ensure proper waste management in the surrounding buildings, control water pollution, and protect the environment.

Officials informed the meeting that short-, medium-, and long-term plans have already been prepared to address the problems facing the water bodies.

The meeting discussed the critical importance of setting up sewage treatment plants (STPs) to protect the environment of the Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara-Niketan area.

It also reviewed direct measures to regularly clean the lake and its connected canals, remove solid waste, and maintain the natural flow of water.
Furthermore, the participants discussed possible measures to prevent waste from the Korail slum from being discharged directly into the lake.

The high-level meeting was attended by Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher Sumon; State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam; State Minister for Housing and Public Works Ahmad Sohel Monjur; Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam; Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Shafiqul Islam Milton; Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) Chairman Riazul Islam; secretaries of the relevant ministries; and other senior government officials.